Donate

JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER

Congratulations to the Employees of Old Dominion Freight Lines – Helpers of the Month for March!

Posted on: March 24, 2020

Category Basic Needs | Featured | General | Helper of the Month | Home Page | News | Uncategorized

We would like to acknowledge the employees at Old Dominion Freight Lines (ODFL) as the recipients of the Americans Helping Americans® – Helpers of the Month award for March! Congratulations, guys!

While it may seem odd to nominate a whole group of people, believe us when we say, they have been doing incredible work for our partner Appalachian Outreach (AO) in Jefferson City, Tennessee for many years.

What stands out about this group is their willingness to help. Every February, they host Appalachian Outreach’s “Souper Bowl of Caring” and this year, they collected 3,226 pounds of food at a time when our partner’s food pantry was bare.

This year, AO has seen an increase in the number of families in need of food. Recently, a plea for the community for support was sent out, and the employees at ODFL were the first to answer the call. 

Shortly afterwards, the group delivered close to 3,600 pounds of food.

Because of their act of kindness, AO’s pantry was stocked and families were served.

Appalachian Outreach’s Executive Director Jean-Ann Washam said, “Without people like this we would not be able to serve our families that are in need. I am so thankful for their support.” 

The Helper of the Month Award is designed to show the amazing, wonderful, hard-working, and dedicated people in the Appalachian communities we serve every day. Each month, we’ll be sharing these stories with you in the hopes that you’ll walk away as inspired as we are to do good things in your community!

Stay up to date with the latest news.

Join

Kentucky continues to face one of the highest poverty rates in the country, and the numbers tell a sobering story. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Kentucky poverty rate was 16.4% in 2023, well above the national average of 12.5%. Median household income in the state was $61,118 (± $653), compared to $77,719 (± […]

Since 1776, Americans have relied on their relatives, neighbors, and friends, charitable organizations (such as Americans Helping Americans®), and their communities at large to help them through the challenges our nation has faced throughout its history. From the hardships of the Revolutionary War and the early years of building a new nation to economic crises, […]

Georgia is one of the most economically diverse states in the nation, with booming metropolitan areas alongside deeply struggling rural communities. So many people wonder, is Georgia a poor state? The answer lies in the sharp contrasts between prosperity in its cities and the hardship faced in its rural regions. Yet behind the progress of […]

Appalachia is a widely used name for a multi-state region in the eastern United States, shaped by shared geography, history, and economic conditions. For official federal regional planning and data collection, the Appalachian Region is defined using a county-based system established by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). Under the ARC definition, 52 counties in Tennessee […]

Families across Tennessee continue to face the difficult realities of poverty. Rising costs of housing, food, and healthcare, combined with job losses and long-standing systemic issues, leave thousands struggling to cover even their most basic needs. These challenges are especially pronounced in rural communities, where limited access to services and economic opportunities deepens hardship. This […]

Benjamin Franklin is quoted as saying, “The best investment is in the tools of one’s own trade.” For Big Creek People in Action (BCPIA) in McDowell County, West Virginia, having reliable tools is essential to carrying out its home rehabilitation program for low-income elderly and disabled homeowners in need of repairs. Supported by Americans Helping […]

This summer, thanks to the supporters of Americans Helping Americans®, we are once again able to support summer day camp programs in rural Kentucky and West Virginia, benefiting a projected 225 children ranging in age from 5-13. Last year, executive director Cameron Krizek reported that Americans Helping Americans® “made a significant impact on the youth […]

In February 2025, McDowell County, West Virginia, was hit once again with historic flooding following “the worst floods” of 1977, 2001, and again in 2002, reports The Appalachian Voice. “But now,” it reported in July 2025, “the new benchmark for horrible flooding will be Feb. 15, 2025, explains resident Rev. Brad Davis. “This flood was […]

Americans Helping Americans® is preparing now for the summer months, when thousands of children in Tennessee, Virginia, and Georgia will lose access to the school meals they rely on during the academic year. Last year, Americans Helping Americans® partnered with Appalachian Ministries of the Smokies (AMOS) in Jefferson City, Tennessee, the Labor of Love Mission […]

In 2023, the official poverty rate in the U.S. was 11.1%, meaning more than 36 million Americans were living in poverty, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. That’s nearly one in every nine people facing daily challenges to meet basic needs like food, housing, and healthcare. Poverty alleviation refers to the range of […]